The Hindu Business Line : `Career choices bring with them major challenges for students'

MS UMA RAO, HR Head of Idea Cellular in Hyderabad, addressing Business Line campus interface to the corporate world programme at the Institute of Public Enterprise in Hyderabad on Saturday. - K. Ramesh Babu

Hyderabad March 18 While today's students enjoy the luxury of choices in career and jobs, the very same choices confront them with challenges, said Ms Uma Rao, Head (Human Resources) of Idea Cellular Ltd here.

Will you go for a brand, go by your own gut feeling, listen to 10 expert views or obey your parents? Faced with such a situation, the contemporary student has to contend with having his or her own power of intent and develop an individual mind to choose the right option, she said.

The compensation packages offered by most corporates are designed keeping in mind the overall expectation from the team and not just the individual.

TEAM WORK

Therefore, an individual's performance as part of a team will determine further progress, Ms Rao said, while delivering a special lecture for the BL Club at the Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) here on Saturday. In a presentation, laced with witty examples and real life situations, Ms Rao gave valuable insights to the student community on facing interviews as they go out into the world in pursuit of careers.

Aspects such as how to prepare for the interview were explained with clarity.

Not being selected for a job in a particular interview need not be construed as a failure. It could also mean that you don't fit into the overall situation at the organisation, she said.

FIRST IMPRESSION

Creating the right first impression is the beginning task for candidates and the newly employed or while meeting someone new and important, Ms Rao said.

"Simply because you might not get a second chance to make a right impression," she added.

Referring to increasing women in workplaces, Ms Rao said organisations have taken an affirmative action to bring women on board.

She quickly added that it should not be mistaken for reservation for women. Life is difficult for working women. If organisations are appreciative of this factor, more women will contribute positively, she added.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

Ms Uma Rao listed care, confidence, patience, humility and high expectations from self and the people around as traits of leaders with a positive attitude.

On HR, she said, it has become a major challenge not just within organisations but in managing supplier organisations such as B-schools, who provide the necessary manpower.

Earlier, Dr A. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Associate Professor (HR) and Placement Coordinator of the IPE, in his welcome explained the steps taken by the Institute in bringing industry professionals to interface with the students.

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